Summer Review Preparations

Hey everyone,

Mati here. This is sort of my "News Update" for the month. I am finally done with school, so I am getting to work finishing up my current review requests. I added a fancy little calendar at the bottom of my blog that should show all of the books I am planning on reading, with an optimistic time-frame attached to them. Authors, if you and I have talked and you do NOT see your book on the list, feel free to contact me and I'll get it sorted out.

Books on my to-read list may rearrange themselves a bit depending on a number of factors: mood, location, ease of access, whim, phases of the moon, etc. Sometimes I feel like reading something journalistic, and other times I need fluff, so if a book migrates across my list, don't take it too personally. This month a lot of my kindle books got attention since I could read them on my phone, but I'm hoping to at least get through all of the print books I have sitting here before too long.

Thanks for your patience, and if anyone is reading this, thanks for being a follower! Having a few readers every once and awhile keeps me from just talking to myself. ; )

Looking forward to a summer of books! Hope you are too!

- Mati

Highmark by Jeffrey V. Johnson

Highmark

Author: Jeffrey V. Johnson
Publisher:  Amazon 
Pages: 320

Release Date: March 2014

Source: Received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Abe had never gotten the chance to do anything more interesting or dangerous than collate, and the errand that Mr. Ebensworth sent him on that morning was only the best assignment he'd ever gotten because of the dearth of competition. He was to go down to Underton and fetch a girl for her aunt's wedding. Having never been to Underton, the literal underworld city in caves beneath Highmark, Abe was looking forward to the simple errand quite a bit.

And initially it was just as he expected it to be. Fascinating and different, the glowing town was overflowing with slightly-seedy charms and hints of magic all around. All that changed when Abe finally found the girl, and suddenly he was surrounded by threats and danger, suddenly immersed in a magical and terrifying mystery.
What was she involved with? Who was the monster pursuing her, and how could Abe hope to survive with only the skills of proper filing to aid him?

When I first started reading Highmark, I was immediately drawn into the prose Jeffrey V. Johnson was writing. The first half of the book was very well placed, interesting, and had just enough mystery to draw the story forward. However, by the end I felt like some of that mystery was left unresolved, and I was a bit confused by the way the story ended. While it is a good book, and other readers may enjoy it, I'm not sure it was my cup of tea in the end.

The one main flaw this book had for me was an undefined sense of place. We start in Highmark, explore Underton, but as the story progresses I had trouble understanding either of the settings. Was Highmark supposed to be like our world, but in the past? Was this all in an entirely different universe that resembled ours a bit? At one point Abe seems confused by what a television is, so that just confused me more. I needed a bit more understanding of where I was to fully immerse myself in things.

The second flaw with this book as the rather confusing ending. It felt a little too chaotic for me. People were on the same side, people weren't on the same side. Abe seemed lost, and I felt lost. It felt like things were supposed to come together in an "aha!" moment, but I don't really feel like the main point was clear enough to me. This was one of those endings that just had you pausing and asking "Wait...what just happened?" I just think there were too many twists for the story to have a clear sense of direction. 

The characters seemed believable to me, however, Abe's relationships with other characters felt distant and surface level. Abe is one of those characters who is sort of sheep like. He just wants someone to point his gun and tell him who to shoot at. The more people get involved, the more chaotic he seems to be spinning, unable to make his own choices. I would have been okay with it if Abe had developed by the end of the book, but he still just felt too passive. It was cute when Begonia was bossing him around, but he never grows out of that, so he felt a little spineless by the end. 

Overall, the writing itself was good, and I enjoyed a lot of the author's humor, but the plot needed a bit more work to give a sense of clarity and finality on the last page.

Fire of the Sea by Lyndsay Johnson

This week I have had the pleasure of reviewing Fire of the Sea, and participating in its blog tour. If you haven't heard of this book, it was certainly a beautifully done novel  with some unique elements I enjoyed. Below is my review and rating, and best of luck Lyndsay with the rest of your tour. 

Fire of the Sea

Author: Lyndsay Johnson
Publisher:  48fourteen Publishing
Pages: 379

Release Date: March 24th, 2014

Source: Received a copy from the author in exchange for 
an honest review

Social Media:

www.lyndsayjohnsonwrites.com

www.facebook.com/lyndsayjohnsonwrites

 Book Trailer:

https://vimeo.com/90483810

Sharp, sleek, and golden. Like the dagger she has worn since childhood, eighteen-year-old Aeva is all three of these things. But there is something else that this mermaid and her prized weapon share – they are both hunted.

Hidden within the caves off Iceland’s dark shore, Aeva waits to take her place as the next ruler of the Meriads. But when Aeva uses her potent and alluring song to save a drowning human, she disrupts a delicate balance. Realizing she has unexpectedly bound herself to Gunnar, Aeva is torn between duty and love.

Aeva severs one life to begin another, and soon finds herself not only rejected by the sea, but also stalked by an old enemy. As the worlds of myth and man intertwine, Aeva will challenge fate to protect her own sacred relic and the man she loves.

But legends and lies cast an intricate net. With time and safety quickly unraveling for Aeva and Gunnar, there is only one clear course: Find and defeat Delphine before she can shift again.

I'll be honest, I've read a lot of mermaid stories lately, and I can be a tough critic when it comes to them. My favorite stories are ones that defy norms and bring their own unique twist to the traditional, and Fire of the Sea managed to do this. While there were a few elements that felt a little cliche, Lyndsay Johnson's beautiful writing and engaging story kept me reading in the end. If you love a good mermaid story, I think I'd add this to the list.

Aeva is a strong female character, destined to become a ruler once she comes of age. But she saves a human, and threatens to ruin everything. Becoming an enemy of the sea, she must find a way to right the balance or leave the ocean forever. Yet the bond she created with the man she saved cannot be abandoned, aiding her choice. 

Some of these elements will feel a little "been there, done that", especially if you've recently read or watched any version of The Little Mermaid. Cut and dry: mermaid saves guy from drowning, falls in love, leaves the ocean to be with him. It is hard to shake that initial "fairy-tale retelling" sort of vibe. Yet the book has it's own unique elements, especially by bringing Selkies/Selurs into the mix, and embracing elements of Norse mythology. Even if it were a straight retelling, it would have been a new enough take on things to keep my interest. 

I like Gunnar, and while Aeva and him seem to fall in love really fast, it makes sense with the story line. He seems cautious about the whole experience, and more realistic than some love interests I've seen in books. Aeva's friends are unique as well, and while I miss the during the second half of the book, I still felt they were fleshed out and didn't feel static like some minor characters end up being. 

The story itself is well paced, and it was easy to read in just a couple of sittings. Overall it would be a good summer read if you like a good fantasy. 

About the Author:

Lyndsay grew up in the wide expanses of Texas, where the only thing stronger than the accents was the state pride. An over-active imagination, tale-telling father, and encouraging librarian mother lead to her love of all things creative.

When it comes to books on her bedside table, young adult lit has always been a favorite (Blue Balliett, Libba Bray, and Stephenie Meyer, to name a few.) But it was actually an old, yellowing copy of Scandinavian Folk and Fairy Tales that planted a particularly relentless seed. Shapeshifters and sea nymphs began forming the seed of an idea that would eventually grow into Lyndsay’s debut novel, Fire of the Sea.

When she is not writing, you can find Lyndsay spending time with her family in the Rocky Mountains of Utah. She enjoys sitting in dark theaters, trying new gluten-free recipes, watching breaking storms over the peaks out her window, and secret naps.

Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink by Stephanie Kate Strohm

Pilgrims Don't Were Pink

Author: Stephanie Kate Strohm
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers 
Pages: 204

Release Date: May 8th, 2012

Source: Oyster, a book subscription service

Libby Kelting had always felt herself born out of time. No wonder the historical romance-reading, Jane Austen-adaptation-watching, all-around history nerd jumped at the chance to intern at Camden Harbor, Maine’s Oldest Living History Museum. But at Camden Harbor Libby’s just plain out of place, no matter how cute she looks in a corset. Her cat-loving coworker wants her dead, the too-smart-for-his-own-good local reporter keeps pushing her buttons, her gorgeous sailor may be more shipwreck than dreamboat — plus Camden Harbor’s haunted. Over the course of one unforgettable summer, Libby learns that boys, like ghosts, aren’t always what they seem.

Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink is a fun novel that I enjoyed more than I expected to. To be honest, I wasn't sure how much I would like the novel as Libby is such a different person from myself. I don't like fashion, I rarely wear makeup, and I think I have one pink article of clothing in my entire closet. Yet there was still something charming about this book that kept my interest.

Cam, unfortunately, is extremely stereotypical as an initial love interest. That far too perfect, out to get in your pants type guy stands out to me from a mile away. I felt frustrated that Libby was so easily won over by him. She seems like she's really smart, at least when it comes to history, but really dumb when it comes to guys. Then there was Garrett, and I actually related more to him than probably anyone else in the book. I'm a nerd, and I've been a journalist, so I think I ended up staying in the story just for him. At the same time, I ended up feeling frustrated because why would he end up with a girl like Libby? I'm not sure I really understood what it was that connected them. 

I like Libby's best friend, although some of the characters didn't feel entirely fleshed out in the story. It was a light read, but aGood one? I guess I'm on the fence about that. It felt like maybe a story that would be a sort of "pallet cleanser" type category. Nice to read, would read a sequel, but not something I would be dying to go back to.

A Story of Serendipity

Quick fact about me as a blogger: I am both a writer, and an artist, and much of my free time is also spent doing crafty things for my art business. I do re-purposed art from time to time, and I will often go to auctions to pick up interesting things to turn into artwork.

About two years ago, I ended up buying about 50 books for a few bucks. Most were old, really worn out, and there were few titles I recognized. I ended up selling a large chunk of them to a book store, but I saved four books, three of which were destined to be re-purposed as art.

Now, before anyone cringes that I used books for crafts, the books I had chosen were in the "well loved" category. My rule with book art is I won't sacrifice a book someone could still read. The first two were classics with missing pages: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Frankenstein. The third was a book about oil companies that had a really small font that would work well for tiny bottles, and it was also fairly roughed up. But the last book ended up in the pile in a somewhat accidental way. I picked it up because I saw the words "Dragon" and "Volume 1", and thought it may be something interesting to read later down the road. With several moves, it ended up getting tossed back in the arts and crafts box, and was soon forgotten about.

Fast forward to last September, I attended Salt Lake Comic Con with my publisher. We ended up being next to Tracy and Laura Hickman, and I got to know them as we talked during the duration of the show. While they were wonderful people, I admit I had never read their work. I picked up on of Tracy's stand alone works, the Immortals, but decided I would try to read his more popular "DragonLance" books if I could find a book one.

After several months of searching, I didn't have much luck. Every thrift store had a wall of Tracy's books, but none of them started at the beginning. There were several different story lines, lots of starting places, but none were that infamous "book one" I wanted to find. I set the task on the back burner, and school mostly put it out of my mind.

Graduation season is coming up for college, and my grandparents were making their way up to visit this month, so I resolved to clean my craft room. This meant going through boxes, transferring items to sturdier totes, and virtually reshuffling everything in the backroom. Somehow that stack of four books resurfaced, and migrated around the room for a good week. When I finally got to them, however, I was started when I realized I recognized the series name at the top of one of the books. Ironically, when I set aside a book two years ago to read, I had picked out Tracy Hickman's Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Volume 1 of the DragonLance Chronicles.

I never knew I would meet the author, and get to respect him as a person before I would get to read his writing. And I never expected such a well worn paperback would somehow become an instantly cherished item.

In the Mirror by Kaira Rouda

In the Mirror

Author: Kaira Rouda
Publisher:  Real You Publishing Group 
Pages: 214

Release Date: May 1st, 2014

Source: Free copy from Netgalley.

If you knew you may die soon, what choices would you make?

Jennifer Benson has it all: a successful career, a perfect husband, two kids and abundant friendships. The only problem is she may be dying. IN THE MIRROR is the realistic love story about a woman facing a deadly illness, and her loves past and present. It's a story that unfolds with a delightful blend of humor and poignancy, ringing true in the heart of anyone who has ignored a warning of her own.

When I started reading this book, I wasn't sure what to expect. To be honest, it was tough on me, especially when a close relative was diagnosed with cancer shortly after I started the book. Some parts of the story were done really well: the concept of being 'on pause' while the rest of the world continues on, the desperation for normalcy, the struggles to survive both for the victim and the family. Had the book just been about those things, I think I would have liked it a lot more. 

I guess I had problems in the end with the main love triangle of the story. Alex's arrival produced some interesting trials for Jenn, but as time went on, it left me confused with who to side with. Was Alex right to show up and put Jennifer through all this? Was Jennifer right to accept his affections when she was married? Was Henry right not to trust her when she said nothing happened? Books like this leave me depressed as a reader. Everyone screwed up, and it doesn't feel like things will ever be right. It reflects real life, real struggles, but it doesn't give you much hope as a reader. 

I just needed a happier ending I guess. It's cancer, it screws stuff up, and I get that. But when you know someone who is going through it, the last thing you want is this feeling that life is out of your hands and there is no way to fix it.I just didn't feel the resolution I wanted in the end.

Random Q&A: Mati Raine

Because I don't have a review for you this week (I know, I'm lame. It's been a busy week!), I decided to do a random Q&A about my own experiences as a writer. If you have your own answers to one of these questions, I'd love to here your response as well!

Q&A: The Author's Life for Me?

Author: Mati Raine
Publisher: Fantastic Journeys Publishing
Books: Archipelago (YA Urban Fantasy)
Website: This blog! Also, www.archipelagobook.net

What is the hardest part about being a writer?

I think the hardest part about being an author I've found so far is when people critique something in your book you know will get answered further down the road. It both frustrates and excites me. You sit on your hands a little bit to keep from bouncing out of the chair yelling "WAIT! I KNOW THIS ANSWER!" While you hope every reader will keep going, there will be a few that rage quit and never let you finish your story.

Being a writer means someone will eventually hate what you've written, no matter how well edited, polished, written or executed a book is. It isn't a profession where there is a right or wrong answer, rather, you're always waiting to find your audience, then dedicate what you're doing to those chosen few. Someday, somehow you will upset or disappoint someone. You just have to pick which person you will let down. 

Do you ever get discouraged about writing? 

I'll be honest, I do get discouraged sometimes. While I do appreciate all feedback, I would be lying if I said I haven't dreamed of 5-star reviews from time to time. It is a delicate balance between humility and being calloused enough to handle the demands of writing. If you don't take any feedback to heart, you'll never improve your stories. But if you don't learn to tune out the harmful stuff, you'll quickly give up because negativity is painful.

When you get a few negative reviews in a row, it gets discouraging. You wonder if you did something wrong, if you jumped in too soon, if you could have done something better. You just have to hold onto the reasons WHY you did certain things. 

For instance, (spoiler alert) there is one love interest in my story people really like. Partway through, he turns into a jerk. I've had people really let down that I did this with one of their favorite characters, but I chose to do that BECAUSE he was so likable. Every romance story I read, there is a knight in shining armor, but it never reflected the real life experience I had that sometimes princes turn BACK into frogs. Love falls apart. People jump too fast, then realize something is wrong. I don't want readers to hate this guy, but feel and experience the blindsided hot/cold nature love can have in high school. One day you're dating, the next your dumped. There isn't always a perfect reason. 

Writing is about maintaining your goals admits all the garbling input around you. Sometimes it's like protecting a sand castle in a windstorm. It gets frustrating when people don't see 'what you intended' But when they get it, that's the reward that keeps you going. 

Is it hard to be a writer and a reviewer at the same time?

I know some reviewers that are very cautious about letting people know they write as well. There is a mentality at times that writers can't be readers, because they will suddenly be biased about what they're reviewing. Yes, authors can be biased, both in a positive and negative light. It is hard sometimes to give a negative review because I've been on the other side of one, and sometimes I want to give a higher review if I really like a particular author. But at the end of the day, I look at the story, and force myself to follow the review guidelines I already wrote for myself. Are there character flaws? Is the plot solid, etc, etc. Having my own checklist to follow helps keep me keep the focus on the story.

One hard thing about reviewing and writing at the same time is when people read your own writing. If you've critiqued something in one story, and someone finds a similar flaw in your own, it puts a slight blemish against you because 'you do the same thing'. It's like reading the work by an editor, and finding a grammar error. The problem is writers are often blind to our own writing. I'll be the first to admit that! I can spot quotation errors and punctuation issues in books, but my editor always has to move my punctuation marks inside my quotes all the time. This is because our brains often automatically correct those errors while we're working on things. This is why editors/beta readers/and reviewers are so meaningful, regardless of whether you are one of those individuals yourself. You need someone to look at your work who has enough distance from it to see clearly.

What is your favorite thing about writing?

My favorite thing about writing is actually just watching my characters grow. I know I'm the one 'controlling' them, but sometimes they still go off in directions I never intended. Characters are alive: I am a firm believer in that. If you write them well, they react, expand, and decided what to do all on their own. This is why I rarely outline: I want to let my characters respond to the environment, and I don't want to say 'this is where you're going'. Some of my favorite characters are the ones who don't give a crap what I want and ruin the story all on their own. Although 'ruin' usually means 'help' in the end. 

What is one thing you wished you could tell people reading your work?

I always wish readers could see all the files I have hidden away I used to build my world. Heck, as a reader, I always wish I could see all of the authors OWN world building processes. I can put the url to my website at the end of my book, but there is never a guarantee they will go there and look at things. As a reader, sometimes we take for granted the building blocks a novel is built on. When I open a book and see appendices or maps, sometimes I think 'hey, that's useful'. But a quick glance at a map never seems to reflect the hours I know when into planning everything on it. 

What are your writing goals for the upcoming year?

My writing goals for this year are to finish my next book, Confluence. With each review I get, I feel more motivated to get it into the market. It has one of my favorite characters in it, and I have been super excited to share her with people. But I also have a goal to get it written and edited well first. I've seen some rushed books this year, and I want to make sure I don't get caught in that hype. Some books can be written great in a short span of time (I think of the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer), but I think it's easy with the rise of the e-book industry to throw something out there before it's completely 'polished'. Writers may hate waiting for more than a year for a book, but I think being handed an unfinished book is much more disappointing. 

AUTHORS!!! What about you? How would you answers these Q&A questions? Send in your answers (along with some basic author info/links), and I will try to feature one or two of you this week here on my site!